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Waiting is not Wasting IIThank God and our Lord Jesus for another opportunity to discuss the world of God with you in this gospel corner. We are still on "WAITING" on the Lord. In this session, I am going to share with you what you need to be able to withstand your trouble time - waiting for a relief from the Lord. The question is: Is it pleasant to wait? Absolutely not. The flesh does not enjoy pain. There is a lot of pain in waiting; you get tired, you get weary, discouraged and at the extreme hopeless. In Psalms 27:13, David said, "I would have lost heart". It means David went through pains and agony, fear and torment that would have driven him to the edge. But something kept him through. He said - "I believe" His faith was strong enough to withstand the test of the time. Reader, I want to share with you some things that you need to help you through your troubled time. But before I do that, let me emphasize that it is natural for you to feel the pain of your troubled time and to get weak along the way, but it is supernatural to be able to keep your situation under control and not lose your mind - you need God to do that (see Heb 12:11) What do we need to overcome the pain of waiting time? b. Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God Many people believe that to be able to stand the test of the time is based on their strength. Yes, they could be right, but let them be stretched a little further and see how easily they will give up. I have always wondered why some people cannot take pain, but I found out when I hit the bottom of my life and I almost gave up. But when I sought the strength of the Lord and got it, I was able to bear the unbearable. When you see people who are really waiting on the Lord strong and joyful, having their circumstance under control, believe me, they have the strength of the Lord. Men who can face physically hopeless situation with joy are doing so under the influence of a supernatural strength of God. How and where do you find the strength of God? Reader, the journey ahead of you right now could be very long, you need food and water to survive like Elijah. You need Jesus, the Word of God. "and Jesus said, I am the bread of life…" John 6:35. No matter what circumstance you are facing, the Word of God can give you strength. Just imagine the promise of God in Is 41:10. God promised to strengthen you and help you in the time of trouble. There is power in the Word of God. Do you need strength to carry on? After reading this message, pick up your
Bible and go on your knees and cry to God for strength, tell Him you cannot go
on no more by yourself, remind Him of His promise to strengthen you. Then just
open your Bible and wherever you sighted first on that page start to read, If
you are real and sincere, I tell you, God will speak strength to your weak soul.
This was how Elijah overcame suicidal feeling and this was how I overcame mine
when I was alone in trouble. * I have heard a lot of Christians saying, it is a sin to be worried or
anxious about our circumstance. I think that is wrong. How do you think a woman
will not be worried when she has been diagnosed with Cancer, or man who does not
know where his next meal is coming from, or man who is looking at 20 years of
his life in prison; or a woman whose husband has just disappeared leaving her
with children and responsibilities? Definitely if you have a mind, you will be
worried or anxious. What this scripture is saying is that you have a place to
take your worries and anxieties to. Instead of wallowing in thinking and
worries, you should go to God in prayers. In the nearest future, I will talk
about prayers, but le me tell you that there is nothing so relieving as getting
on your knees and crying and speaking to the mighty God that you cannot see but
sees you. There is such a therapeutic power in prayer that is genuine and
sincere, it restores peace that surpasses all understanding to your heart and
mind (Phil 4:7). Jesus said, "Men always ought to pray and not faint"
(Luke 18:1). That means there is strength of God in prayer, because you faint
when you run out of strength. So whatever you are going through, get ready to
pray for strength. One of the best place anyone can find strength in time of trouble is the church. One of the virtues of the church is the enormous encouragement that she gives to her members who have troubled time. First, it is important that you find a good church that will meet your spiritual needs, helping you to be strong for the difficult time here on earth and preparing you for the home where there is no pain. I use the word - GOOD CHRUCH because any church that cannot give you strength through Christ Jesus in the time of trouble is not a "good church". The Bible says, we should encourage one another. It is so amazing that you will not believe the strength you get when a Christian brother or sister sincerely encourages you. Another reason why you have to fellowship is that "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). From time to time, people of God are coming to the end of their waiting and having so much to show for it. You will be so strengthened when you hear the testimony of the over comers, that you will walk in your affliction with joy knowing that God is faithful. If you have not been going to Church or you quit going to church for one reason or the other, it is time to find a church, because God has prepared someone ready that will meet you, encourage you, lift you up, and help you wait on the Lord. 2. Endurance & Patience Do you know that the story of every successful person in the scripture is backed up with patience and endurance? And that patience is based on faith. David said, "I would have lost heart but I believed". Because he believed, he was able to endure and persevere. Because he believed he was able to wait patiently. As a matter of fact, after David had finally overcome his enemies, (the victory that he waited on the Lord for), he wrote this song in Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me and heard my cry" (NIV). I can imagine that cry, a cry of agony and pain. A cry from a sorrowful heart. I can relate to it. And I believe you might be in that situation right now, in pain of cancer and life threatening diseases, separation from a loved one, loneliness and depression. Can you cry? They cry! Cry to the Lord, believe, endure and wait. There is no sin in crying; but you have to cry with faith. You see, babies don't just cry, a baby cries to get the attention of the father and the mother. Whose attention are you trying to get with your cry? If it is God's attention, you must cry with faith and endurance. You cannot give up while you are waiting on the Lord. Talking about the Bible champions, people who survived their waiting time by endurance and patience, Job was a special man. No matter what you are going through, you need to know that you redeemer is alive. Job said, "I know that my redeemer lives…" (Job 19:23). He is alive and will show up at the right time to give you a new day.
One of the most important things you need to make your waiting time easy and short is obedience. You say "What do you mean? I am seriously sick, I have troubled home, my marriage is not working, I am barren, can't have a child, everything I try to do never succeed - Obey who? Well, I have a news for you. You must find out what God wants you to do about your situation and obey. Obedience includes agreement and surrender. There is no faith without obedience." Are you trying to handle your life by yourself and you never let God in? Your waiting time will be longer than normal if you don't agree with and surrender to God. God has promised you prosperity. It will only manifest at God's time. If you feel it is taking too long and you take laws into your own hand and seek riches in the wrong way, you will end up in prison and what that means is that your waiting time has been prolonged. You cannot replace ritual or sacrifice with obedience, you will be mocking God by doing that. God wants you to obey7 Him; all will be well with you At your convenience, please read Deut. 28:1-14. Reader, it is important that you understand how to deal with your troubled
time in a godly manner. You need God's strength, endurance and patience; you
also need to obey the living God. Before I end this session, let me remind you
that your current difficult time is only for a while, God is in the midst of it
and you have nothing to fear.
Reader, be encouraged for after every darkness there is light. I will conclude this "Waiting is not wasting" in the next study showing you what you cannot do while you are waiting on the Lord. If you have any questions or prayer requests, you may send me an email (vaigbogun@aol.com) and I will pray for you in the name of Jesus. If I have any prophesy for you, I will bring them to you personally as a response from God. Till then, stay blessed. For "The Celestial Church of Christ Gospel Corner", Senior Evangelist Victor Aigbogun [Victory Temple, London] |
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